Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai in Lagos, Nigeria: What it all means?

Udoh N. Kelven
Jul 28, 2017 · 2 min read

It means Nigeria (Lagos) is a fast-growing technology hotbed with huge potential, and Google is looking to penetrate the market more by improving its already hugely useful products like Maps and YouTube, and launching new, exciting ones. It’s really that simple!

As per the above, some announcements were made yesterday.

Key Announcements

  • Google Street View is now in Lagos. Everyone can, from the comfort of their dwelling place (or offices, street corner, et al), take a virtual tour of interesting places in Lagos like the Carter Bridge, National Stadium, Eko Bridge, et al.
  • Posts on Google was also launched (Nigeria is the 3rd country to get the service — Brazil and US have it already). The service allows verified people (you know them) to share relevant, fresh content with the people who are searching for them.
  • YouTube Go will be beta-launched in Nigeria before the year runs out. Google started testing the app in the country in June this year — the second country after India, I guess. YouTube Go lets you discover, save and share videos you love in a way that’s transparent about the size of downloads.
  • Direct Carrier Billing will be activated for Nigerian telcos soon, starting with MTN and 9Mobile. This means users can make in-app purchases with their airtime, instead of via their debit cards.

Other announcements

  1. Google’s charitable arm, Google.org has committed US$20 million to African nonprofits over next 5 years.
  2. Google’s digital skills program has been expanded. 10 million Africans will be trained over the next 5 years.

You can click here to catch up on all the announcements made yesterday.

Before you leave, do watch this Video of the CEO dancing to a madt tune by Small Doctor, a seriously talented music act from the Motherland.

Peace ✌

Udoh N. Kelven

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I don’t have passion — I simply find something to do & give it my all! Self-proclaimed Coworking Avocado 🥑 👩‍💻👨‍💻 ||| writer . marketer . communicator .

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